Course Syllabus
Athabasca University
Psychology (PSYC) 290
General Psychology (Revision 4)
Revision 4 closed May 23, 2008, replaced by current version.
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Delivery mode: Individualized study or grouped study. Online-enhanced. Video component*.
*Overseas students, please contact the University Library before registering in a course that has an audio/visual component.
Credits: 3 - Social Science
Prerequisite: PSYC 289 is recommended.
Precluded course: PSYC 206 (PSYC 290 may not be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for PSYC 206.)
Centre: Centre for Psychology
PSYC 290 has a Challenge for Credit option.
Overview
Psychology 290: General Psychology, provides an introduction to behavioural areas of study such as maturation and development, personality, and social relationships. Specific topics covered include intelligence and psychological testing, motivation and emotion, human development, personality, stress and health, psychological disorders, psychotherapy and social behaviour.
Outline
Unit 1: The Evolution of Psychology; and The Research Enterprise in Psychology
Unit 2: Intelligence and Psychological Testing; and Motivation and Emotion
Unit 3: Human Development Across the Lifespan; and Personality: Theory, Research
Unit 4: Stress, Coping, and Health; and Psychological Disorders
Unit 5: Psychotherapy; and Social Behaviour
Evaluation
To receive credit for PSYC 290, you must complete five unit quizzes, an essay and a final examination and must achieve a composite course grade of at least “D” (50 percent) and a grade of at least 60 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
| Five Unit Quizzes (6% each) | Essay | Final Exam | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30% | 30% | 40% | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Textbook
Weiten, W. (2001). Psychology: Themes & Variations, Briefer Version. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
Other materials
The course materials include a study guide, a student manual and a quiz package.